The Gay Rights Movement (GRM) came to fruition in the 1960’s, a period of liberation, alongside the Civil Rights movement. The 1950’s were a time of oppression, and with the 60’s came civil unrest. They used their sexual promiscuity as a political statement of freedom within themselves. It culminated in 1969 with the Stonewall Riots in NYC in response to police raids. These raids continued and, a year later, led to the first pride parades. Three years later, being gay was no longer considered a mental health issue by many top psychologists, and the gay community could be somewhat or open with themselves and their sexuality. The gay stigma stuck around. This continues the whole of the 70’s, and in 1980, the AIDs crisis began to erupt. There was no real public funding or support. In 1987, Reagan promised to fund, but it was not followed through.